A survey of study experience in Britain

Introduction Britain is a developed capitalist country, located in the British Isles in the northwest of continental Europe, surrounded by the North Sea, the English Channel, celtic sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The following is a list of experiences of studying in the UK shared by KaoNet. Welcome to read the reference!

1.

First of all, tips

Usually in Britain, the tip is 10%. In America, you should tip everything, including taxi drivers. In Britain, going to a restaurant is usually just a tip. Some restaurants add service charges to their meals. You can ask to calculate the meal fee, and the tip is calculated separately. But if you think the service quality is not good, don't tip.

Second, drive on the left.

You drive on the left in England. It's easy to forget when you're new here, walking down the street, looking in the wrong direction and finding a car coming towards you.

Although Jay Walking is legal at any time in Britain, people usually wait for people to cross the road before the traffic lights turn green. Unlike China, drivers in Britain usually don't want to cross the traffic in the middle of the road.

Third, use more polite language.

In Britain, you will find that people say "please" and "thank you" much more often than in China, and friends often use these two words. Using these polite expressions has become a part of our culture. So ... if you accidentally bump into someone, even on the subway, most people will naturally say "I'm sorry".

Fourth, eating habits are different.

In Britain, we drink a lot of tea and coffee, but we usually drink cold drinks when we eat. Different from China culture, British people don't think that drinking hot water or hot drinks is necessarily good for health. Therefore, there is no place to fill hot water in the university campus, only the faucet for cold water can be seen.

Even though there are authentic Chinese restaurants run by China people all over Britain, when your British friends say that they have eaten Chinese food, they are likely to say "English Chinese take-out", such as fried shrimp slices and lemon chicken. China has supermarkets in big cities, where you can buy all kinds of cooking materials, condiments, pots and pans. Everything from hot pot to rice cooker. But if you live near the countryside, don't forget to bring your favorite food from China. However, British Customs has strict regulations on bringing certain foods into the country. Pay attention to the latest regulations.

Another thing to pay attention to is the time and quantity of eating. In Britain, dinner is usually more formal than lunch, and you eat more. Students' lunch is usually cold sandwiches, which is quite different from the hot lunch that most students in China are used to.

Verb (abbreviation for verb) transport and travel

In big cities, it is not cheap to wave for a taxi in the street, but it is much cheaper to take public transport. If you really need to take a taxi, you will usually call to make an appointment for Mimi Taxi, which is cheaper, but it must be a legally registered taxi company.

In China, it sometimes takes several hours to queue up to buy train tickets, especially around the Spring Festival, but it is different in Britain. The easiest way here is to book tickets online. Students under 25 can also buy student discount cards. There is a discount for buying train tickets with this card.

2. Ways to save money by studying in the UK

1. There is a discount for one-time payment.

Most British schools allow students to pay tuition fees in three ways: one-time payment, installment payment and monthly payment. Many schools usually give students a 2%-5% tuition discount in order to encourage students to pay tuition in one lump sum when registering. If students have the ability to prepare the tuition fees during their study abroad before going abroad, they can save a sum of money by paying them in one lump sum.

2. Admission scholarships can be applied boldly.

British universities will grant scholarships of1000-3,000 pounds/year to students who have received the admission notice and passed the scholarship application. Generally speaking, there are a large number of such scholarships and it is less difficult to apply. Moreover, many universities will automatically grant such scholarships to students who receive admission notices. China students can boldly try to apply for such scholarships.

Besides studying hard, take a part-time job.

Although studying abroad is mainly about studying, students can do some part-time jobs on the premise of dealing with academic problems, on the one hand, they can subsidize their living expenses, on the other hand, they can exercise their practical ability. Like most countries studying abroad, according to the analysis of studying conditions in Britain, international students are also allowed to work 20 hours/week on weekdays and 40 hours/week on holidays. Through part-time jobs, students can learn more about British culture, customs and social conditions, which is of great help to broaden their horizons and accumulate rich overseas work experience.

4. Learn about student discounts in the UK.

When I was in China, I thought the student ID card was a waste, but it was different in Britain! A large number of businesses (except luxury goods) have at least a 10% discount for students. You can ask the student ID if there are any discounts for shopping/watching movies/buying computers ~ popular businesses such as ASOS, Ted Baker and Apple, and even some restaurants have student discounts. There are still many businesses that will give students a 20% discount at the beginning of school, which is really super cost-effective.

In addition, art students can visit many museums or places of interest for free. Just bring your student ID card, and make sure the professional name is written on it ~

5. Traffic saving strategy

There are many discount cards and preferential schemes in Britain that can help students save money, especially for students who plan to travel frequently. You can buy a card to take trains and long-distance buses, and you can save up to 30% per trip.

You can get international student identity card (ISIC) or International Youth Travel Card (IYTC). These cards are commonly used in Britain and abroad, and can give you discounts in transportation, clothes, music products, entertainment, catering and many other aspects. In towns with many students, travel agencies usually give students discounts. They can provide students with discount cards and discount air tickets.

If you are a well-planned person, go to an Internet cafe! If you buy a long-distance bus ticket 1 or 2 weeks in advance through the website, you may get a super cheap ticket of 1 yuan. Want to buy a cheap train ticket, book it online 1 month in advance. But you can't use a discount card to book special tickets online.

6. Taobao guide

London has many unique markets and is also a good place to save money.

Camden, for example, is considered by many to be the largest and most diverse comprehensive open-air market in London, and is famous for other kinds of clothing, avant-garde culture and "punk" style.

There is also Brick Lane Market, which is adjacent to Spitalfields Market. It is usually cheaper to buy fruits, vegetables, fish and meat here than in the supermarket. The food street and flea market here are also worth seeing. Students who like special souvenirs and taking pictures may wish to have a look.

7. Second-hand goods are also treasures

The textbooks used in class are also very expensive. Therefore, students are advised to buy second-hand textbooks from websites such as Yi Bei or Amazon. But be sure to check the version of the textbook carefully to avoid buying it wrong.

3. Guide to Accommodation Arrangements for Studying in the UK

1, host family

At first, it was a form of guardianship for underage students, but now it has developed into a more common accommodation option. Students of all ages can submit their own accommodation applications through schools or institutions.

The family will provide accommodation for students, there will be catering services to choose from, or everyone can apply to use the kitchen to cook for themselves. If they can get along well, they will have the opportunity to participate in family gatherings and social activities, which is very beneficial to everyone's adaptation.

But there will also be some troubles, because foreign students, as outsiders, can only adapt to the rules within the family. At this time, we should actively communicate and ensure that our opinions can be directly conveyed and we will get along more friendly.

2. School dormitory

Dormitory will be the first choice for freshmen, and everyone's application will be given priority. Basically, as long as you receive the offer confirmation, you can formally apply, and there is a great possibility of success. Everyone can check in smoothly.

Dormitories are generally double rooms and multiple rooms, some need to share bedrooms, some will have separate bedrooms, but generally need to use bathrooms. While they can have a good relationship, they also lose some privacy, but on the whole, there are still many benefits.

3, off-campus rental

Because living on campus does not have much advantage compared with renting a house, it may even be more expensive, so most students will choose to move out after their freshman year. The difference is whether to rent alone or share with others.

Looking for a house must be obtained from a reliable platform. Schools and friends are very good introductions. You can also go to a professional rental agency to get effective information. If you have money, you can find a more suitable house. Of course, we can also consider sharing.

The advantage of renting a house is that there will be a relatively private personal space. Even if you share a room with others, you will have your own bedroom, and the kitchen is the standard for renting a house. You can cook for yourself and save money.